Nigerian forces tout 'massive deployment' against insurgents

By rhackbarth

Created 05/19/2013 - 5:15pm

Sunday, May 19, 2013 - 5:15pm

(CNN) — An ongoing "massive deployment" against insurgent groups in northern Nigeria by the nation's special forces killed at least 14 suspected terrorists and captured 20 others, according to a statement released Sunday by Nigeria's defense ministry.

The ministry had reported killing at least 10 suspected terrorists and apprehending another 65 on Saturday, as well as the deaths of "conservatively speaking, over 20 dead" on Friday.

Sunday's update noted that three soldiers were killed and seven more were wounded in the offensive.

Troops also seized seven vehicles and 13 telephone handsets, as patrols moved "to secure towns and villages from infiltration," while enforcing curfews in areas deemed potentially dangerous, the ministry said Sunday. A day earlier, the ministry trumpeted a weapons seizure that included rocket-propelled grenade launchers..

Among those targeted by the military was the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

The military said its forces stopped an attempt by fleeing Boko Haram insurgents to infiltrate Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, in northeastern Nigeria.

Much of the violence over recent years has been blamed on Boko Haram, the name of which means "Western education is sacrilege."

On Friday, a spokesman for the U.N. human rights commissioner told reporters that Boko Haram could face war crimes charges for alleged ethnic and religious cleansing in Nigeria.